Victoria Derbyshire

Nigel Farage says that Diane James has realised that being a party leader is "a 24/7 job, it isn't very much fun". This follows an "attack" on her at London's Waterloo station, he says.

Mr Farage adds that it is better for her to accept that she "made a mistake" now than in a few months' time.

"It's not a great day but it's not the end of the world," he tells Victoria Derbyshire. Asked about reports of personal problems for Ms James, he says that "there is a problem with health in the family".

Mr Farage announces: "I will continue as the interim leader of UKIP and we will go through the electoral process."

Victoria Derbyshire says there are reports that UKIP's ruling body could install Welsh Assembly member Neil Hamilton as interim leader.

"I do not see any prospect of that horror story coming to pass," Mr Farage says, insisting:

Victoria Derbyshire

Sky News

UKIP's Nigel Farage tells Sky News that Diane James stood down as party leader for a combination of personal reasons and not "understanding the extent to which the job would change her life".

He says he feels a bit sorry for her. Her early departure "doesn't look great but we could be the Labour Party", he adds.

He claims that UKIP has shifted the political centre of gravity and Conservative positions on immigration and attacking a liberal elite are "all the stuff I was saying two or three years ago and was laughed at for doing".

He says Theresa May "is saying all the right things" at the moment but if the Tories do not deliver, UKIP will be in "a much stronger position than before".

Tom Moseley
Political reporter

There's a mini-fightback against Brexit at the entrance to the conference centre this morning. 

A campaigner from Open Britain (which used to be the Remain campaign) is handing out cards. "We're here on behalf of the 48% who voted to remain," he says. "We want people to know we've not gone away."

Nearby, another man - no connection to Open Britain - is displaying a large EU flag.

The Daily Politics

The Daily Politics has an extended edition to cover Theresa's May first speech as prime minister to the Conservative Party conference, Andrew Neil is hosting the live two-hour programme from Birmingham, starting at 11:00 BST, with the leader due to speak from 11:30.

Coverage will include this montage of key images of the Tory year, as David Cameron handed over to his successor.

The Conservative Party's chief whip, MP Gavin Williamson, addresses conference.

He says it's unusual to address such a large audience. "It's usually one-on-one," he jokes.

The final day of the Conservative conference has begun.

After speeches from a group of MPs, party chairman Patrick McLoughlin will rally the troops before Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson addresses the party.

Then Theresa May will make her first major address to conference as leader and Prime Minister.

Nicola Sturgeon is not the only politician to try to link the Conservatives and UKIP, as the former Green Party leader tweets:

Image source, PA

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has dismissed Theresa May's pitch for the political centre ground.

"In her short spell as Prime Minister, Theresa May has led a Conservative Brexit government that wants to pull out of the single market, re-introduce grammar schools and use human beings as bargaining chips in trade negotiations," he said.

Centre-left think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research called for a "smart, strategic" approach to immigration following Home Secretary Amber Rudd's speech to the Tory conference on Tuesday.

The IPPR's Phoebe Griffith said: "It is right that the government takes a careful review of our student and work routes. But forging ahead with crude reductions in numbers would be a serious risk to our economy."

The Liberal Democrats said: "Cutting down on international student numbers would rob our economy of millions of pounds and do untold damage to our world-beating universities."

Caron Pope, a partner at immigration law firm Fragomen, said: "At a time when the country needs to retain and attract investment, increased control on immigration for skilled workers will be seen as a deterrent. The UK must remain open for business."

But immigration pressure group Migration Watch UK welcomed the home secretary's announcement, saying:

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has argued that further curbs on foreign workers and students might be needed to address public concerns over immigration.

However, business groups including the CBI were less convinced. CBI deputy director general Josh Hardie called for "an approach to migration that both supports the economy and deals with public concerns" following the home secretary's speech on Tuesday.

"Businesses will not welcome further restrictions on high skilled migration from key trading partners around the world, especially as a series of changes were only announced earlier this year," he added.

"At a time when we need strong links globally to seize new opportunities after the referendum, being seen as open to the best and brightest is vital."

Tom Moseley
Political reporter

Delegates in Birmingham this week have not been restricted to politics - as well as a shooting range they have also tried their hand at a tractor simulator. The machine is a publicity stunt by McDonalds. Punters have to guide a tractor around a field, gathering as many potatoes as possible. Here's the politicians' leaderboard:

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Lisa Duffy, runner-up in the UKIP leadership contest, has said she doesn't believe Diane James had "the passion" to do the job. The MEP for South East England is standing down from her role as leader of the party just 18 days after she was elected.

Ms Duffy told the Today programme that she hadn't heard from the newly elected leader despite attempts to reach her and felt the party hadn't had any leadership over the last 18 days.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has told the Conservative conference companies were "getting away" with not training British workers and tougher recruitment tests were needed.

Under proposals unveiled yesterday, businesses would have to publish details of how much of their workforce are foreign workers. The plan has provoked criticism from the British Chambers of Commerce and the CBI.

But Ms Rudd tells Nick Robinson she wants to improve local recruitment.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says today's leader's speech will indicate that "Theresa May's government will be ready to intervene".

"The notion of the good state" is a departure from some previous Conservative leaders.

Margaret Thatcher said there was no such a thing as society, there were individuals and families, while David Cameron said there was such a thing as society but it was different from the state.

Now, Theresa May will say the state can be a force for good.

BBC Breakfast

During her interview on BBC Breakfast, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson reveals she has been supporting Labour's Ed Balls on Strictly Come Dancing.

"I might be a Scottish Tory but there is a bit of my household that is forever Balls," she says and announces she'd be keen on a slot on the show herself:

BBC Breakfast

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is asked about the government's stance on immigration.

"This is a consultation that is going to take in the views of business, the views of universities and others" she says.

The "devolved administations" including the Scottish government will be involved in a conversation about the future of EU immigration, she claims.

The Remain campaigner says she was "very disappointed" with the outcome of the EU referendum but adds she will not "sulk" but will put her "shoulder to the wheel".